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$page->title = "Life Changing Commitment";
$page->date = "2015/1/8";

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$page->blurb = 'Make a life-changing commitment in 2015';

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<p>Dear NRHC Family,</p>

<p>Happy New Year to you! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and New Year celebration with family and friends. We had 
a great time with family, and Lara Beth and I celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary as well. 2014 was a great year, 
and we are very excited to see what God has in store for us in 2015!</p>

<p>As we begin the new year, I want to encourage you to make a life-changing commitment in 2015. Will you commit to 
regularly spend time reading, reflecting on, and responding to God's Word? The Bible is God's Word - His inerrant, 
infallible, useful, life-giving Word. His Word is the bread of life that we so desperately need. Regularly reading, 
reflecting on, and responding to His Word 
will cause us to love God, grow to be like Christ, serve others, and share Jesus 
all the more.</p>

<p>Here are a few tips from my own experience to help you get started:</p>

<ol>

<li><b>Get a good Bible translation.</b> We use the English Standard Version (ESV) at NRHC. You want a translation that 
is accurate in its translation and readable in it's verbiage. The ESV is the best combination of accuracy and 
readability, which is why we use it and recommend it at NRHC. You can see numerous editions of the ESV bible <a 
href="http://www.crossway.org/bibles/" class="external" target="crossway">here</a>
and find them for purchase on Amazon.  Of course, you can read the Bible electronically as well using a Bible app.  We 
recommend YouVersion. This year, I am using the ESV Single Column Journaling Bible for my Bible reading time.</li>

<li><b>Get a reading plan.</b> A reading plan will take the guesswork out of where to go or where to start with your 
Bible reading. There are numerous plans to choose from - find one that works for you and get started. You can view tons 
of different reading plans <a href="https://www.bible.com/reading-plans" class="external" target="bible">here</a>.  You 
can download the YouVersion Bible app to your phone or tablet and always have your reading plan with you. I am using the 
Discipleship Journal Book-at-a-Time Reading Plan this year.

<li><b>Pick a consistent time and place.</b> We are creatures of habit and routine.  This applies to spiritual growth as well. 
Pick a consistent time and place and stick with it. For me, I read first thing in the morning and sit in my old, yellow 
chair in my home study. Everything I need for my Bible reading is right there and ready to go each day.</li>

<li><b>Read for application.</b> Each time you read, ask God to reveal something to you that will call you to action. It might 
be a truth to meditate on, a sin to confess, an action to take, a prayer to pray, or a  promise to claim. Read for 
action and response. Maybe even keep a journal of the significant things God shows you and the actions He is calling you 
to take. We want to be doers of the Word, not just</li>

<li><b>Invite others to join you.</b> Your best bet for sticking to your Bible reading plan is to have others doing it with you 
or at least holding you accountable.  Invite friends from your small group, ministry team, neighborhood, or office to 
join you. Each of you sharing how God is working and speaking to you will encourage and inspire the others. And, you can 
help one another apply God's Word to your lives.</li>

</ol>

<p>I hope you will make the commitment to grow in your love for God by pursuing Him through His Word. And, I hope these 
tips will help you get started. If we can help you in any way, please let us know!</p>

<p>Looking forward to worshiping with you this Sunday as we continue The Story.  2015 is going to be a great year!</p>

<p>Until All Hear,<br> Jay</p>
